Fern Creek got a two-run homer in the top of the fifth that turned out to be the winning hit as the Tigers from Jefferson County rallied to beat the Hopkinsville Tigers 3-2 Wednesday in the Fort Walton Beach Bash. The loss was the Tigers third straight in the annual Spring Break event on the Gulf Coast.
Fern Creek picked up the win despite solid pitching from a pair of Hoptown hurlers. Zach Moss and Thomas Hallmark combined to limit Fern Creek to just four hits over seven innings. Fielding miscues were an issue for Hopkinsville, as the Tigers were charged with three errors in the game.
Hopkinsville took an early 1-0 lead as the Tigers used two walks, an error, and a fielder’s choice to score a run in the bottom of the first.
Hoptown extended the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third. Gavin Powell singled to center, scoring J.J. Thompson, who led off the inning with a base hit of his own.
Fern Creek rallied for a run in the top of the fourth to cut the margin to 2-1, and then took the lead for good in the fifth.
Hopkinsville got runners on in each of its last three at-bats but could not find a way to get the tying run across the plate.
Six different Tigers had a hit in the game.
On the mound, Zach Moss had a no-decision as the starter. Moss went 3 1/3-innings, giving up no runs on no hits and striking out five. Hallmark was tagged with the loss. He went 3 2/3-innings, giving up three runs, two of them earned, on four hits, striking out six while walking two.
Hopkinsville (3-7) will be back in action in Florida on Thursday when they take on Nelson County.
